The Multicultural Diversities of My Co-Worker
The concept of multicultural diversity leads one to recognize the importance of the presence of individuals having different cultures, races, nationalities, and ethnicities in a certain organization or group. In the concept of multicultural diversity, two separate concepts or terms can be taken note of, namely, culture and diversity. In definition, culture refers to the total way of life of a group of individuals acquire, which includes their values, beliefs, traditions, practices, and customs. In this sense, this distinguishes a particular individual from another. In relation to the concept of culture is the concept of diversity, which refers to the presence of a variety of individuals having different cultures and practices in a particular group or organization. With this, this paper stresses the interview done with a particular co-worker, whose ethnicity, race, and culture are different from the interviewer. Through the interview, the different characteristics of the co-worker would be cited, along with the person’s views on certain topics or issues. Afterwards, the data collected would be compared to the worldview of the country of the person. In the end, evaluation of the interview process would be emphasized, focusing on the complexity of the identity of the interviewed co-worker.
Profile of the Co-Worker in Question
In order to follow ethical considerations in this project, the real name of the co-worker considered for this project was not revealed. This is because a part of the real identity of the co-worker would be indicated in the project, along with some of her answers regarding different topics or issues, which significantly set her apart from other individuals having another culture. However, it must be understood and remembered that the answers of the respondent do not indicate the overall or general characteristics of the Scandinavian culture. Rather, the answers of the respondent would be an accumulation of experiences and influences from her own culture and from the culture of the place she is already in. The co-worker or respondent chosen was a 29-year-old female, Caucasian, and specifically Scandinavian in ethnicity.
Answers to the Interview Questions
Because the co-worker in question is considered a second-generation immigrant, with her father being Scandinavian and her mother born in the United States, several age-related issues and generational influences can be determined. According to the respondent, her influence is coming more from her father, who continuously instills in her the Scandinavian way of life, and because she was born in Scandinavia. She states that an age-related issue that she experiences is having the pressure to relate to younger individuals or the younger generation. As such, she is forced to act and think the way they do, which is totally different from the culture she was accustomed to. In addition, one generational influence is the use of technology, such as the use of computers, sophisticated gadgets, and the World Wide Web.
The respondent’s personal experience with developmental disability might be her experience being a first time mother to a child who has died of pneumonia. Before her immigration to the United States, the respondent was married in Scandinavia and had a son. Unfortunately, the couple decided to separate, leaving the son under the custody of the client. However, after the divorce the son became sickly, thus, making him more susceptible to pneumonia. After several months of continuous treatment, the son died of the illness. This forced the client to move to the United States to start a new life.
The religious upbringing of the client is purely Lutherian. Being Lutherian means that the client does not believe in the need for indulgences, as she believes that she would be provided by her needs from Christ through her faith alone. Her personal experience with her divorce and the death of her son made her more faithful, thus, making her strictly committed to the Lutherian Church. She consistently attends worship services and participates wholeheartedly.
The client emphasized that her country and its people rely heavily and significantly on its history and its culture. Because of this, although a Scandinavian lives in an urban city, he or she will still place high regard for his or her ethnicity and race. This is what the client pointed out that his or her culture and ethnicity helps each individual to go about success and development as a country. In addition, the respondent emphasized that her particular ethnic and racial identity does not limit her to function as an employee in an urban area or environment, given that her language and culture differs from the Americans. Rather, she points out that she uses this difference in culture and racial identity as a learning experience, which she can benefit from.
Currently, the client is working in the United States as an accountant in a private firm. Her income is just sufficient for her to feed herself, to sustain her needs in terms of housing and transportation, to travel to different places, and to afford leisure. She finished a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy in a prestigious university in Scandinavia, which helped her get a job in the United States. At present, she is single and available, after she was divorced from her husband in Scandinavia for 5 years. She lives in a safe and respectable community in the United States, thus, not posing any kind of threat to her identity, integrity, or ethnicity. Overall, her condition and status in the United States is well. Compared to the status of her parents before their immigration, the client stated that her parents and their family as a whole were also doing well in Scandinavia. She pointed out that she had no hard time adjusting in the United States in terms of maintaining her socioeconomic status, as she was already used to this kind of life in her own country.
The client clearly and strongly emphasized that she is heterosexual, and that she clearly has desires for the opposite sex. She also stated that her attraction to the opposite sex prompts her to go to bars and clubs, and to even meet single individuals through getting-to-know sessions and activities. This also makes her active in sexual activities with some men that she meets. However, the client emphasized that marriage and children would not be option for now, for being afraid of her past negative experiences.
The client stated that she has no indigenous heritage coming from the Sami people of Scandinavia. This is because tracing in her family tree, she has found out that her father is purely Swedish.
The national identity of the client is Scandinavian. This is because she was born and raised in Sweden, like her father, although her mother was American. The primary language of the client is Swedish or Scandinavian.
The client believes in such a thing as gender equality, thus, prompting her to choose the United States from where she could obtain equality in terms of opportunities and relationships. She stated that this situation is totally different from the situation in Scandinavia, being more of a patriarchal society. She believes that both a woman and a man, particularly in relationships have to perform different roles in the household, but because women nowadays are more empowered, she would also want to be working and contributing to the welfare of the family financially. In addition, she also expects to have a different kind of relationship in the future, which is much different from what she had way back. Thinking futuristically, she stressed that when that time comes, she would be adopting American styles of parenting, which is totally different from what she had been during her first marriage.
Comparison with Scandinavian Cultural Worldview
In terms of religion, it has been emphasized by the client or the respondent that her religion is Lutherian, thus, making her active and participative in worship services. The emphasis on her religion is fairly consistent with the fact that majority of the Scandinavians are Lutherans. As such, it can be perceived that the high regard placed by Scandinavians was instilled in the respondent or the client effectively, thus, even retaining the practice of attending worship services consistently although she is already residing in a new country with diverse religions and cultures.
Another point of comparison is the fact that the Scandinavian society is purely a patriarchal type of society. This cultural worldview of is also consistent with the particular experiences shared by the client or respondent from the interview session. Although she vaguely stated the real reason for her divorce with her ex-husband, one reason of their misunderstanding is the fact that she also wants to perceive other roles than being a housewife and mother to their child, thus, indicating that her rights as a woman may not have been protected due to the patriarchal society that the country has. This then serves to be the reason why she has chosen to live in the United States, where she can be free in terms of assuming roles other than what was intended for her. The third point of comparison is in terms of socioeconomic aspect, where the urbanization experienced by the client may seem similar to the urbanization in the United States. It has been reported that high wages were also provided to workers in Scandinavia, which was also experienced by the client in her home country.
In addition, the high regard for history and culture of the people from Scandinavia was also confirmed through the interview. This is because the client also places high regard for her history and culture, most especially in terms of religion, beliefs, and practices. Lastly, divorce in Scandinavia is also legal, thus, was also confirmed through the interview, as the client underwent divorce five years ago.
Complexity of Identity of the Co-Worker
The interview emphasizes the complexity of the identity of the client or the respondent. One way to assess this is due to the fact that the client or the respondent in question confirms the presence and shares her unique life experiences. This was indicated by the fact that she was divorced, had a son, and moved to the United States to start anew. The fact that a person experienced and continually experiences new events and situations in his or her life makes him or her a complex individual, not because of the accumulation of experiences, but because of how he or she surpassed them. Another point of complexity is determining the choices that define a person. Choices are important indicators of one’s complexity because one’s choices in directing his or her life may define how he or she wants it to be headed. In this case, the client’s choice of going to the United States means that she wants to significantly change her life. The third point of complexity is the presence of different cultures of different individuals. This complexity can be seen as one’s ability to practice different traditions and beliefs, as indicated by his or her culture. Last point of complexity of the respondent in question is the fact that several factors in her experiences can be deemed as defining her human development. Her experiences and its effects to her behavior and personality define who she is, thus, distinguishes her from other individuals.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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